Reverb & Seduction. Federale

Federale is around for about twenty years. Reverb & Seduction is the band's sixth album. An yet, only in week 24 of this year, the band made it's debut on this blog with the single 'Heaven Forgive Me' soon followed by 'No Strangers' in week 24. That the album would make it to the blog was almost predictable. The promise made by the singles has been fulfilled alright.

Let me start with introducing the band. Federale is led by Collin Hegna, who is also a member of Brian Jonestown Massacre. He is joined by Jared Molyneux (The Shivas) on guitar, Pat Spurgeon (The Dandy Warhols, Rogue Wave) on drums, and Ryan Lynn (Mission Spotlight, The Needs and guitar tech for The Decemberists, Metric, and The Lumineers) on guitar. Where their music is concerned, you will find it goes off in several directions. From Lee Hazelwood to Calexico in the country corner, to alternative rock from the West Coast, Portland, Oregon's Federale is apt in all and adds no little to the genres.

The mix in its music comes across quite nicely in opening song 'Advice From A Stranger. Hegna has a Hazelwood kind of voice, just not that deep. That fact puts him into an alternative kind of country corner to start. The music though mixes alternative with alternative rock and a psychedelic edge. The wobbly guitar sound, the effect on the vocal and that high little wining Farfisa organ, all are dead giveaways. The mix works though. 'Advice From A Stranger' pulled me into the album immediately. The Decemberists are not very far away either. Federale has a tougher sound, overall though.

Promo photo: Jason Quigley

The album alternates between the different angles the opener holds within in. One song may be more country oriented, others more 80s pop, other contain a tougher rock element. Each one is made with great taste in mind and a pleasure to listen to. The two singles proved to be great frontrunners for Reverb & Seduction. I am going to mention the second song here, as I'm amazed how it incorporates 1980s Howard Jones or A Flock of Seagulls synths into a tougher organic rock setting. It even has that 80s doom kind of singing.

You can believe me that the next song fits perfectly to what came before and the next after that, until the album slowly moves towards the country/Calexico side of its mix. You will find that 'Home' and the instrumental 'Revolver Volver' were made in great taste as well. But first listen to I'll Never Forget', sing three, to understand why I chose to give a synopsis instead of writing you through all the changes and nuances. It all points to how great an album Reverb & Seduction is.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght